A FATHER, son and daughter are preparing to help keep beachgoers safe on the Pembrokeshire coast this summer as part of the same RNLI lifeguard team.

Tom Owen, 52, his son Cai, 19, and daughter Poppy, 17, are all RNLI beach lifeguards in north Pembrokeshire.

Tom joined the North Pembrokeshire team in 2022, with Cai following in 2023 and Poppy joining last year after turning sixteen.

Family effort

Tom is also the oldest lifeguard in the North Pembrokeshire team, but he has decades of experience around the water.

He first worked as a beach lifeguard for the local council in 1992, before the RNLI lifeguard service was introduced in Pembrokeshire in 2008.

Tom said: “I first had the opportunity to work as a beach lifeguard for the local council in 1992 before the RNLI’s lifeguard service was rolled out in 2008. My interest grew whilst in Australia, so I spent a couple of summers out there volunteering mainly for surf lifesaving clubs.

“Joining the RNLI has always appealed to me and now that my children are old enough, I took the opportunity to give it a go. It’s also lovely working alongside my kids. I’m really proud of what they have achieved, although I try not to embarrass them too much.”

Coastal upbringing

Cai and Poppy have grown up on the Pembrokeshire coast and have spent much of their lives in and around the sea.

Both have swum competitively for many years, competing at club and county level, while both are also surfers. Poppy has represented Wales at the Junior Santa Cruz Eurosurf in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Cai said: “My most memorable lifeguard shift with my dad was when we cycled to work together, but on the way home my bike got a puncture.

“Dad cycled home and I had to walk back. But I really enjoy cycling to work in the summer with Dad and having the opportunity to be active and help others.”

Poppy said: “I really enjoyed my first season working on the beaches last year and can’t wait for this one to begin. I have already completed my lifeguard induction and have just finished my A-levels.

“It’s hopefully going to be a great summer working alongside my brother and dad, and in a special year as the charity celebrates the 25th anniversary of RNLI lifeguards.”

‘Give it a go’

Tom said age should not be a barrier for anyone thinking about becoming a lifeguard.

He added: “My age was never a consideration of mine when applying for the beach lifeguard job. I’ve always enjoyed working in a team and having the opportunity to be outside on my local beaches is brilliant.

“It’s hugely satisfying knowing I’m helping to keep others safe.

“I hope other people my age see that lifeguarding isn’t just for youngsters. If you’re still fit and healthy and love being at the beach, just give it a go, you won’t regret it.”

Since the RNLI lifeguard service began in Pembrokeshire in 2008, lifeguards in the county have saved 164 lives, aided 15,513 people and carried out 1,799 rescues.

Photo caption:

Family team: RNLI lifeguards Cai, Tom and Poppy Owen will be helping to keep Pembrokeshire beaches safe this summer (Pic: RNLI).

NEW STUDY PRAISES AFFORDABILITY, AIR QUALITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

WALES has been named the second best region in the UK for retirement in a new study, although the findings may prompt debate among older residents facing pressures over healthcare, transport and the cost of living.

The analysis, carried out by private healthcare group Spire Healthcare, ranked UK nations and regions on a range of factors including house prices, crime rates, the proportion of over-65s, risk of falls, number of hospitals, air quality and access to free events.

Wales scored 59.30 out of 100, putting it second in the UK behind the East Midlands, which topped the table with a score of 61.25.

The South West came third, followed by Northern Ireland and the West Midlands. London was ranked lowest, with a score of 33.62.

Spire Healthcare said the figures showed Wales was one of the most attractive areas in the UK for retirees, helped by relative affordability, environmental quality and lower fall risk compared with some other regions.

The company said Wales was also among the three regions with the lowest fall risks, alongside the East and the South West.

Mark Frame, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Spire Southampton Hospital, said falls remained a serious concern for older people.

He said: “Most falls result in bruising or sprains, but we frequently see fractures of the wrist, ankle and hip.

“In older patients, hip fractures are especially concerning as they can significantly impact mobility and independence.

“In terms of prevention, maintaining strength and balance is one of the most effective protective measures.

“Regular activity such as walking, swimming or balance-focused exercises can significantly reduce fall risk. At home, simple steps such as improving lighting, securing loose rugs and wearing appropriate footwear can make a substantial difference.”

However, the study is likely to be viewed with caution by some older people in Wales, particularly in rural counties such as Pembrokeshire, where access to NHS dentists, GP appointments, public transport and social care remains a major concern.

The index did not directly measure NHS waiting times, ambulance response times, access to care packages, rural isolation, or the availability of public transport, all of which can have a major impact on quality of life in retirement.

The full ranking placed the East Midlands first, followed by Wales, the South West, Northern Ireland, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the South East, the North East, the North West, Scotland, the East of England and London.

Spire Healthcare said the index was designed to measure retirement suitability using publicly available datasets, with higher scores indicating regions that performed better on affordability, safety, healthcare access, environmental quality and social opportunity.

CENTURIES-OLD CEREMONY DRAWS FAMILIES TO THE RIVERSIDE

HAVERFORDWEST’S historic Beating of the Bounds returned on Sunday (Jun 14), with boats, music and crowds gathering along the riverside for one of the town’s most distinctive civic traditions.

The ceremony saw the Mayor of Haverfordwest and Admiral of the Port, Cllr Randell Thomas-Turner, lead a water-borne procession along the Western Cleddau to the White Stone, the painted boundary marker of the Borough and Port of Haverfordwest.

He was joined by Deputy Mayor Cllr Adam Benson-Davies, Town Sheriff Cllr Dani Thomas-Turner, Deputy Lieutenant Patricia Porter OBE and her daughter, the Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, the Chairman of the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society, Reverend Sophie Whitmarsh, Andrew Merfyn Phillips the High Sheriff of Dyfed, and other invited guests.

A flotilla of boats from Neyland, Milford Haven and other parts of the Haven made its way upriver for the ceremony, with civic leaders and dignitaries travelling out to the White Stone.

Upon reaching the marker, Reverend Sophie Whitmarsh, the Mayor’s Chaplain, gave a blessing as the boats gathered around the painted white rock.

Cllr Thomas-Turner then delivered the traditional proclamation, formally reaffirming the town’s ancient boundaries and rights.

He declared: “Let it be known that I come to the White Stone and do this day acknowledge and maintain the ancient bounds and privilege of the Borough and Port of Haverfordwest.”

The ceremony was accompanied by a busy family event at the Quayside Car Park, where Pure West Radio broadcast live from the riverside and crowds enjoyed face painting, bouncy castles, ice cream and food stalls.

Local artist and musician Steve Bartram performed during the afternoon, while children from Vision Arts entertained the crowd with songs from Disney films and musical theatre, including I’ve Got No Strings from Pinocchio.

Milford Haven Town Band also performed, adding a traditional soundtrack to the occasion as the historic ceremony unfolded on the river.

With the Bristol Trader open and people sitting out on benches along the river enjoying the evening atmosphere, the event brought a relaxed summer feel to the town centre.

Security for the event was provided by RM Training and Security Solutions, helping ensure the celebrations ran safely for families and visitors.

First aid cover was provided by St John Ambulance Cymru, with four team members on site throughout the event.

Beating the Bounds is an ancient civic custom, once used to mark and remember parish or town boundaries before modern maps and records. In Haverfordwest, the tradition survives in a particularly distinctive form, with the Mayor travelling by boat to the White Stone to acknowledge the historic bounds and privileges of the borough and port.

This year’s event combined formal civic ceremony with music, family entertainment, river activity and a strong community turnout, helping to keep one of Pembrokeshire’s best-known traditions alive for another generation.

Photos by The Pembrokeshire Herald, Aad Oostermeijer, Cllr Thomas Tudor and Darthy Media